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October 12
Video Games
1998: WinBook introduces the WinBook XL computer. It features 20x CD-ROM drive, 1.44 MB 3.5-inch floppy disk drive, 233 MHz Pentium MMX processor, 256 kB Level 2 cache, 16 MB RAM, 12.1-inch dual scan display, PCI 2 MB graphics accelerator, 1.6 GB hard drive, touch pad controller. Price is US$999.
2001: In Chiba City, Japan, the 11th annual Tokyo Game Show is held, over three days. Microsoft shows the Xbox video game system, for the first time in Japan. Sega shows Virtua Fighter 4 for the PlayStation 2.
2002: Namco releases the Namco Museum video game for the GameCube in the US. It includes classic arcade games Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Pole Position, Pole Position II, Galaxian.
2004: Nintendo releases the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door video game for the GameCube in the US.
2004: Microsoft Game Studios releases the Outrun 2 video game for the Xbox in the US.
2004: Majesco releases the BloodRayne 2 video game for the Xbox and PlayStation 2 in the US.
2004: EA Sports releases the FIFA Soccer 2005 video game for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube in the US.
2005: Palm releases the Palm Z22 handheld computer in the US, dropping the "Zire" name. It features 32 MB memory, 160x160 color display, ARM 200 MHz processor, Palm OS 5.4.9 operating system. Price is US$99; weight is about 3 ounces.
2005: Palm releases the Palm TX handheld computer in the US, dropping the "Tungsten" name. It features 128 MB memory, 320x480 color display, 312 MHz Intel XScale processor, MMX/SD/SDIO slot, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, audio/video player, Web browser. Price is US$299; weight is 5.25 ounces.
2005: Apple Computer announces an updated iMac G5 computer. It features 20-inch wide-screen LCD, iSight camera, multibutton mouse, 2.1 GHz PowerPC G5 processor, 512 MB RAM, 250 GB hard drive, ATI Radeon X600 XT graphics, dual-layer DVD+/-RW drive, Max OS X 10.4. Price is US$1699. Price for a version with 17-inch screen and 1.9 GHz processor is US$1299.
2001: In Chiba City, Japan, the 11th annual Tokyo Game Show is held, over three days. Microsoft shows the Xbox video game system, for the first time in Japan. Sega shows Virtua Fighter 4 for the PlayStation 2.
2002: Namco releases the Namco Museum video game for the GameCube in the US. It includes classic arcade games Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Pole Position, Pole Position II, Galaxian.
2004: Nintendo releases the Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door video game for the GameCube in the US.
2004: Microsoft Game Studios releases the Outrun 2 video game for the Xbox in the US.
2004: Majesco releases the BloodRayne 2 video game for the Xbox and PlayStation 2 in the US.
2004: EA Sports releases the FIFA Soccer 2005 video game for the Xbox, PlayStation 2, and GameCube in the US.
2005: Palm releases the Palm Z22 handheld computer in the US, dropping the "Zire" name. It features 32 MB memory, 160x160 color display, ARM 200 MHz processor, Palm OS 5.4.9 operating system. Price is US$99; weight is about 3 ounces.
2005: Palm releases the Palm TX handheld computer in the US, dropping the "Tungsten" name. It features 128 MB memory, 320x480 color display, 312 MHz Intel XScale processor, MMX/SD/SDIO slot, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, audio/video player, Web browser. Price is US$299; weight is 5.25 ounces.
2005: Apple Computer announces an updated iMac G5 computer. It features 20-inch wide-screen LCD, iSight camera, multibutton mouse, 2.1 GHz PowerPC G5 processor, 512 MB RAM, 250 GB hard drive, ATI Radeon X600 XT graphics, dual-layer DVD+/-RW drive, Max OS X 10.4. Price is US$1699. Price for a version with 17-inch screen and 1.9 GHz processor is US$1299.
Movies
1985: Death of Johnny Olsen of a cerebral hemhorrage at age 75; TV game show announcer (The Price is Right).
1986: Birth of Marcus T. Paulk; actor (Moesha, Proud Family).
1989: Death of Jay Ward at age 79 of cancer; animation producer (Rocky and His Friends).
1991: The Nashville Network debuts the Statler Brothers Show.
1992: Death of John Hancock at age 51 of a heart attack while filming sitcom Love and War; actor (LA Law).
1993: Death of Leon Ames at age 91 of a stroke; actor (Life with Father, Father of the Bride, Mr. Ed).
2005: In San Jose, California, Disney Chief Executive Officer Robert Iger announces the availability of Disney- and ABC-owned TV show episodes through Apple Computer's online iTunes store. Certain TV shows will be available for download for US$1.99 one day after initial airing on broadcast TV.
1986: Birth of Marcus T. Paulk; actor (Moesha, Proud Family).
1989: Death of Jay Ward at age 79 of cancer; animation producer (Rocky and His Friends).
1991: The Nashville Network debuts the Statler Brothers Show.
1992: Death of John Hancock at age 51 of a heart attack while filming sitcom Love and War; actor (LA Law).
1993: Death of Leon Ames at age 91 of a stroke; actor (Life with Father, Father of the Bride, Mr. Ed).
2005: In San Jose, California, Disney Chief Executive Officer Robert Iger announces the availability of Disney- and ABC-owned TV show episodes through Apple Computer's online iTunes store. Certain TV shows will be available for download for US$1.99 one day after initial airing on broadcast TV.
Music
1985: Death of Ricky Wilson at age 32 of AIDS; drummer (B-52s - "Love Shack", "Rock Lobster").
1997: Death of John Denver at age 53 when his plane crashes into Monterey Bay in Northern California; singer/songwriter ("Rocky Mountain High", "Take Me Home, Country Roads").
2002: Death of Ray Conniff from a stroke at age 85; orchestra leader/arranger and choral director; (Columbia Records house band backed singers Johnnie Ray, Frankie Laine, Rosemary Clooney, Johnny Mathis, Marty Robbins, Guy Mitchell, "Somewhere My Love", "S'wonderful").
1997: Death of John Denver at age 53 when his plane crashes into Monterey Bay in Northern California; singer/songwriter ("Rocky Mountain High", "Take Me Home, Country Roads").
2002: Death of Ray Conniff from a stroke at age 85; orchestra leader/arranger and choral director; (Columbia Records house band backed singers Johnnie Ray, Frankie Laine, Rosemary Clooney, Johnny Mathis, Marty Robbins, Guy Mitchell, "Somewhere My Love", "S'wonderful").
Sports
1986: California Angels, within one pitch of pennant victory lose to Boston Red Sox.
1987: Minnesota Twins beat Detroit Tigers for American League pennant.
1989: Herschel Walker is traded from Dallas Cowboys to Minnesota Vikings for 12 players.
1999: Death of Wilt Chamberlain, American basketball player (born 1936).
2003: Michael Schumacher wins the 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship in Suzuka, Japan, beating Kimi Räikkönen to the title.
2003: Death of Willie Shoemaker, American jockey (born 1931).
1987: Minnesota Twins beat Detroit Tigers for American League pennant.
1989: Herschel Walker is traded from Dallas Cowboys to Minnesota Vikings for 12 players.
1999: Death of Wilt Chamberlain, American basketball player (born 1936).
2003: Michael Schumacher wins the 2003 FIA Formula One World Championship in Suzuka, Japan, beating Kimi Räikkönen to the title.
2003: Death of Willie Shoemaker, American jockey (born 1931).
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